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New works in Germany's art collection: interpreting the state of the country

The exhibition "Germany Is Not an Island" in Bonn features the latest acquisitions for Germany's official contemporary art collection. What do these works reveal about the state of the country?

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Angela Merkel

Cultural appropriation, symbols of power, nationalistic tendencies — those are just some of the topics explored by the artworks in Bonn's Bundeskunsthalle exhibition. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who in the past years popularized the slogan "Germany is not an island," is, of course, the focal point of many of them. Here Dutch artist Erik Lieshout portrayed her with red lips and an inscrutable gaze.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Welcome

"Germany Is Not an Island," the title of the exhibition featuring the state's latest artworks acquisitions, also inspired Erik van Lieshout's 2015 series, entitled "Untitled (The Island)." This drawing depicts the Brandenburg Gate, with its famous quadriga statue; the columns are reinterpreted to read "Welcome," a word that was often used as masses of refugees arrived that year.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

East German memories

People's participation is at the heart of the work of the artist duo Clegg & Guttmann. The photo above, entitled "DDR Children Library," shows a bookcase filled with children books that were popular in former East Germany. To create this work, the artists asked the residents of an area that is currently experiencing massive exodus to bring their favorite books into a vacant shop.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Selection process

The artworks are selected by a jury whose five members travel to art trade fairs such as Art Basel and Art Cologne to discover new talent. All members tour the events on their own and then meet and discuss possible additions, such as Alicja Kwade's sculpture (above). The voluntary curatorial positions are appointed to new people every five years.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Post-internet art from Germany

In order to have their works considered for purchase, artists must be either born or live and work in Germany. Each jury member may also nominate only six names. Viktoria Binschtok made it into the selection with her "Yellow Cluster" (2016, above) that was created by association using computer-based search algorithms. Along with Simon Denny, she represents the post-internet generation of artists.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Art available 24/7

The collection has no permanent exhibition space, but new and past additions are usually put on display every five years in a major German museum such as this year in Bonn's Bundeskunsthalle; Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof or the Gropius-Bau also hosted previous exhibitions. The whole collection is also available online, including Matti Braun's installation portrayed above.

Author: Sabine Oelze (jt)

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Angela Merkel

Cultural appropriation, symbols of power, nationalistic tendencies — those are just some of the topics explored by the artworks in Bonn's Bundeskunsthalle exhibition. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who in the past years popularized the slogan "Germany is not an island," is, of course, the focal point of many of them. Here Dutch artist Erik Lieshout portrayed her with red lips and an inscrutable gaze.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Welcome

"Germany Is Not an Island," the title of the exhibition featuring the state's latest artworks acquisitions, also inspired Erik van Lieshout's 2015 series, entitled "Untitled (The Island)." This drawing depicts the Brandenburg Gate, with its famous quadriga statue; the columns are reinterpreted to read "Welcome," a word that was often used as masses of refugees arrived that year.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

East German memories

People's participation is at the heart of the work of the artist duo Clegg & Guttmann. The photo above, entitled "DDR Children Library," shows a bookcase filled with children books that were popular in former East Germany. To create this work, the artists asked the residents of an area that is currently experiencing massive exodus to bring their favorite books into a vacant shop.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Selection process

The artworks are selected by a jury whose five members travel to art trade fairs such as Art Basel and Art Cologne to discover new talent. All members tour the events on their own and then meet and discuss possible additions, such as Alicja Kwade's sculpture (above). The voluntary curatorial positions are appointed to new people every five years.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Post-internet art from Germany

In order to have their works considered for purchase, artists must be either born or live and work in Germany. Each jury member may also nominate only six names. Viktoria Binschtok made it into the selection with her "Yellow Cluster" (2016, above) that was created by association using computer-based search algorithms. Along with Simon Denny, she represents the post-internet generation of artists.

The latest acquisitions in Germany's contemporary art collection

Art available 24/7

The collection has no permanent exhibition space, but new and past additions are usually put on display every five years in a major German museum such as this year in Bonn's Bundeskunsthalle; Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof or the Gropius-Bau also hosted previous exhibitions. The whole collection is also available online, including Matti Braun's installation portrayed above.

Author: Sabine Oelze (jt)

The exhibition "Germany Is Not an Island" showcases a total of 150 selected pieces by 81 artists, whose work has been acquired by a committee of experts for the Collection of the Federal Republic of Germany over the last five years. The members of the acquisition committee focused on finding artworks that reflect on the country's society and convey information on Germany's current situation.

For instance, Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh's audio installation "The Song of the Germans" (2015) has a choir of 10 African immigrants singing the German national anthem in their various native languages (Igbo, Yoruba, Bamoun, More, Twi, Ewondo, Sango, Douala, Kikongo and Lingala).

Every year since 1970, Germany has been investing tax money in contemporary art. The yearly budget is currently around €400,000 ($500,000).

An artist originally initiated the project. In 1970, Georg Meistermann, president of the German Artists Federation, proposed to put together a federal art collection. The idea of establishing an art collection reflecting a modern and democratic Germany pleased former chancellor Willy Brandt.

The collection does not belong to any institution in particular. The works are shown temporarily in public institutions, ministries, embassies, the chancellery and various museums. The objective of the collection is to present post-war German art while supporting young contemporary artists. The latest acquisitions are now on show in the current Bonn exhibition.

The new pool of 170 works includes not only promising young talents but also forgotten artists whose work deserves renewed attention.

It includes minimalist art by Charlotte Posenenske, an artist from the 1960s who's since gained new recognition. There are also washed-out paintings by Jörg Herold, one of which depicts a German highway in a nostalgic light recalling the 1950s. A photo by Clegg and Guttman shows a bookshelf filled with works that were highly coveted in East Germany. Drawings of figures by Antje Majewski are reminiscent of the carvings done by inmates of the concentration camp of Ravensbrück.

The collection also includes photographic works by Jürgen Staak. While spending time in China, the artist shot pictures of blurs of color on walls. What initially appears to be an abstract painting turns out to be a cover-up attempt: Chinese authorities painted over telephone numbers of Chinese people offering various services, thus rendering them indecipherable.

"In the end, it's all about censorship," explained the artist, adding that he himself originally came from former East Germany, so the acquisition committee possibly saw a connection between the former GDR and China."But the fact that my artwork ended up being purchased is a wonderful gesture of appreciation. Of course, I'm proud of being a part of the federal art collection."

The exhibition "Germany Is Not an Island" runs from March 8 to May 27 at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn.